Chef On Call — Restaurant in Waterloo

TLDR; Reminded me of cafeteria food I haven't had since before my last order here. Burger was bland, unseasoned, and anything but fresh, poutine was similar, and the only good item was the desert which they didn't prepare, what a shame.

Food: 1/5 Delivery Time & Accuracy: 5/5

Order: Mushroom Melt Burger Add Crispy Onions Add Monterey Jack Add Vegie Patty Small American Poutine Dessert Raspberry Cheesecake Total: $41 + tax + delivery + tip: $69.46

Mushroom Melt Burger Basic burger bun untoasted, beef patty was dry, bland, unseasoned with consistency of meatloaf, bacon was under cooked pink and slimy, crispy onions were hardly any anything but crispy, vegie patty had some flavor, lettuce was a very thinly shredded mess and mushroom topping bland and woefully inadequate amount to be called a mushroom burger. Reminded me of a cafeteria burger, like one in a Zoo.

Small American Poutine Fried are battered and unseasoned and smell of the fryer, hardly any mozzarella, peppered steak was over cooked and chewy, green peppers were overcooked mush , and the whole topping mixture smelt, tasted and had the quality of days old overcooked Chinese takeout. The gravy was so thick that even after adding a 1/2 cup of water to it and bringing it to a boil it was still thick! It's like the powder to water ratio for the gravy was off. What a dreadful poutine.

The cheese cake was the only good part of the meal and it was the only thing they didn't prepare.

What a shame I was looking forward to another good experience like my last one 3 years ago when the food was great what a shame the standards have either fallen or I got really unlucky this experience has been a sad disappointment. Certainly not work the money nor even your time as there is far better...

UPDATE:

Thank you to the owner Gabe for reaching out to me personally and providing me a partial credit for our meal. I don’t like confrontation and I was afraid to go back at first because I wasn’t sure how we would be treated, but the staff was so friendly and nice about everything and made sure we had everything we needed. I reordered the same burger, sans the caramalized onions, and it was a world of a difference. All of the food was perfectly seasoned, still warm by the time we brought it home, and we ate every last bite of our food. Thank you for your kindness and wonderful customer service.

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My partner and I wanted to love this place so bad because of all the good things we’ve been hearing about it.

We went this past weekend, I ordered a veggie burger, my partner got the mushroom melt burger. We both added caramalized onions to our burgers and we got curly fries, deep fried Mac and cheese, and two shakes. The food, aside from the mac and cheese bites, was way too salty. We couldn’t have more than 3 bites of our burgers and a few fries, and we both love salt, but this was way too much. Not even adding copious amounts of sauce to the fries could help the salt, it was too much. The caramalized onions were way too sweet and were kind of super saucy which made the burgers soggy.

The Mac and cheese bites were $6 for 6 bites, they were like deep fried easy Mac/kraft dinner style Mac and cheese. Not worth it for us.

The shakes were delicious we both loved the shakes we got.

All in all, considering this meal was almost $60 for the two of us, we will probably not...

Ever wished you had a personal chef on call? Well, even on a budget, Chef on Call has you covered! This go-to late-night spot satisfies cravings with its generous portions, budget-friendly prices, and 2 AM closing time. With daily $6 walk-in specials, flat $10 deals, HALAL meat, and student card acceptance, it’s a top pick for UWaterloo and WLU students.

The Spicy Crispy Crunch Burger, their best seller, was massive and incredibly filling. The juicy, well-cooked beef, crispy bacon, and just-right kick of spice made every bite delicious. It’s the kind of burger that truly hits the spot after a long day (or night). The Gluten-Free Chicken Caesar Wrap was decent, though the wrap itself was a bit dry and could have used more sauce. The crunchy lettuce and Caesar dressing helped balance it out. On the side, the Gluten-Free Sweet Potato Fries were a standout—crispy, soft inside, and paired with flavorful, slightly spicy dipping sauces. The Curly Fries were equally satisfying, crispy and well-seasoned, a perfect side for any meal.

To top it off, we had Oreo and Strawberry Milkshakes, both 10/10 must-tries. The Oreo Milkshake, a customer favorite, was thick, creamy, and the ultimate comfort pairing with a burger. Meanwhile, the Strawberry Milkshake was light yet indulgent, proving Chef on Call knows how to perfectly blend fresh-to-order shakes with a variety of flavors.

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